Wing, especially a carrier wing of an aeroplane, having an adaptable profile

ABSTRACT

There is described a wing, especially lifting wing of an aircraft, with changeable profile, which extends in wing chord direction ( 5 ) running essentially in flow direction and perpendicularly thereto in wingspan direction ( 10 ), and comprises a first cover skin ( 55   a ) and lying opposite thereto a second cover skin ( 55   b ), and comprises a leading edge region ( 11 ) and a trailing edge region ( 12 ) with respect to the wing chord direction ( 5 ), as well as a wing tip region ( 14 ) at the end of the wing ( 1 ) with respect to the wingspan direction ( 10 ). According to the invention there is provided a flexible region ( 15 ) arranged near the wing end, by which the profile of the wing tip region ( 14 ) is adjustable in a direction that includes both a component in wing chord direction ( 5 ) as well as a component in wingspan direction ( 10 ).

The invention relates to a wing, especially a carrying or lifting wing of an aircraft, with a changeable profile.

In aircraft, especially in high performance aircraft, there is a striving to embody the areas or regions of the wing that are used for the controlling and/or trimming of the aircraft so that on the one hand the guidance of the flow on the wing is aerodynamically as advantageous as possible, and on the other hand the arising loads are distributed as uniformly as possible.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a wing, especially carrying wing or lifting wing of an aircraft, with a changeable profile, which is as optimal as possible with respect to aerodynamics and load distribution.

Preferably, the wing with changeable profile shall be suitable for optimizing the lift distribution (trimming), but also for the roll control, in the latter case, shall thus replace conventional ailerons.

This object is achieved by a wing with the characterizing features of the claim 1.

Further, embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

In the following, example embodiments of the invention are explained in connection with the drawing. It is shown by:

FIG. 1 a perspective schematic view of a lifting wing of an aircraft with changeable profile, in which a wing tip region is adjustable via a flexible region in a direction that includes both a component in the wing chord direction as well as a component in the wingspan direction;

FIG. 2 a top plan view onto the wing shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 an enlarged illustration of the flexible region characterized in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a section through the flexible region and the wing tip region of the lifting wing shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3 according to a first example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 a section through the flexible region of a lifting wing according to a further example embodiment of the invention, in which the flexible region is formed by several box elements that are extended or elongated in a longitudinal direction and arranged between the first cover skin or covering and the second cover skin or covering of the wing;

FIG. 6 an enlarged illustration that shows an embodiment of a jointed connection between the mentioned box elements and the first cover skin of the lifting wing according to the FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 an enlarged sectional view that shows a detail of a wing construction according to a different example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 a schematic enlarged sectional view of a detail of a drive for adjusting the flexible wing region; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 sectional views of spacers or spacing holders, which hold the first cover skin and the second cover skin of a lifting wing at a prescribed spacing distance, and simultaneously allow a relative sliding displacement of the two in a prescribed direction.

The perspective illustration of the FIG. 1 shows a lifting wing 1 of an aircraft, namely of a high performance aircraft, with a changeable profile. The arrow referenced with the reference number 5 means the wing chord direction, which extends essentially in the flow direction, and the arrow referenced with the reference number 10 means the wingspan direction extending crosswise or perpendicularly thereto. The profile sections 16 shown in FIG. 1 extend parallel to the wing chord direction 5. With reference to the wing chord direction 5, there is a leading edge region 11 and a trailing edge region 12, and with reference to the wingspan direction 10, there is a wing tip region 14 at the end of the wing 1.

The wing tip region 14 is connected with the rest of the wing 1 via a flexible region 15, and is adjustable in a direction that includes both a component in the wing chord direction 5 as well as a component in the wingspan direction 10. As can be seen in the FIG. 1, the flexible region 15 extends obliquely relative to the wing chord direction 5 from the leading edge region 11 to the trailing edge region 12 of the wing 1, and is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the leading edge region 11, which exhibits a marked positive sweepback angle relative to the wing direction 5.

The wing 1 has a first covering or cover skin 55 a, namely on its upper side or surface, and a second covering or cover skin 55 b lying opposite the first cover skin, namely on its bottom side or surface. In the flexible region 15, the curvature or camber of the wing 1 is adjustable while changing the curvature of the first cover skin 55 a and of the second cover skin 55 b, whereby both cover skins 55 a, 55 b exhibit an essentially smooth continuous extension or contour independent of the adjustment.

In the top plan view onto the wing 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, the position of the flexible region 15 is shown more closely, which is shown further enlarged in FIG. 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the flexible region 15 comprises several longitudinally extending torsion boxes 53 arranged next to one another, which extend with their longitudinal direction from the leading edge region 11 to the trailing edge region 12 of the wing 1, thus perpendicularly to the curvature direction of the flexible region 15. As shown by FIG. 4, the torsion boxes 53 are formed of the first cover skin 55 a, the second cover skin 55 b as well as at least one spar 52 extending in the longitudinal direction of the torsion boxes 53, and are articulately or jointedly connected with one another to a prescribed degree. The torsion boxes 53 are torsionally stiff about their longitudinal direction, yet are changeable or variable in their form or shape, in the sense of a prescribed change of the wing profile, in a direction perpendicular thereto.

An adjusting or actuating mechanism referenced overall with the reference number 60 serves for the changing or varying of the shape or form of the torsion boxes 53, that is to say of the cross-section thereof perpendicular to their longitudinal extension, and therewith of the wing profile in response to a corresponding externally supplied control signal. In detail, the adjusting mechanism 60 includes at least one, and in the example embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 a plurality of swivel bodies or vertebra bodies 61, namely a number of swivel bodies or vertebra bodies 61 that are provided arranged one behind another in the respective torsion boxes 53, as well as respectively a number of swivel bodies or vertebra bodies 61 next to one another in each one of the individual torsion boxes 53.

The vertebra bodies 61 respectively comprise a transmission element 64, which is connected via a pendulum or pivot joint 68 with the first cover skin 55 a in order to compensate or even-out a relative motion between the first upper cover skin 55 a and the vertebra body 61, and, spaced apart in the vertical direction, a connection location 63 to a drive chord, tendon or line 62 a that is adjustable or changeable in its length in response to the control signal.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, each vertebra body 61 in a cross-section has an essentially triangular basic shape, whereby the upper side of the triangle extends essentially parallel to the first upper cover skin 55 a and forms the transmission element 64, and the bottom corner or peak of the triangle forms the connection location 63 coupled with the drive chord or line 62 a. Thus, a change of the length of the drive line 62 a leads to a rotation or twisting of the vertebra body 61 in the sense of a change of the (cross-sectional) shape of the torsion boxes 53, and thus to a change of the wing profile, as is desired. The cooperation of the vertebra bodies 61 and of the drive lines 62 a leads to a change of the curvature of the adjusting mechanism 60 formed thereby, as is similar to the change of the curvature in the spinal column of a mammal, for which reason the term “vertebra body” or “vertebra” is used for the components used with the reference number 61. For the purpose of a further disclosure of the basic principle underlying the adjusting mechanism 60, reference is made to the earlier Patent Application 10055961.1-22, internal file reference P609783SC.

The vertebra or swivel bodies 61 arranged one behind another are respectively connected with one another via a vertebra or swivel joint 69. At the end of the wing tip region 14, there is provided an end piece 77, at which there occurs a compensation of a mutual relative sliding displacement of the first upper cover skin 55 a relative to the second lower cover skin 55 b with a change of the curvature or camber of the flexible region 15 due to the deformation of the torsion boxes 53. For that purpose, the second lower cover skin 55 b is slidably supported against the end piece 77, whereby simultaneously means are provided, by which the cover skin is reliably held onto the end piece 77 in each adjustment position. Alternatively, a compensation of the mutual relative sliding displacement can also take place at a different location.

The pendulum or pivot joint 68 in the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is embodied as an elastic joint, in which the transmission element 64 of each respective vertebra body 61 is connected via an elastic connection on the one hand with the first cover skin 55 a and on the other hand with the associated spar 52. In the illustrated example embodiment, the arrangement of vertebra body 61 and drive line 62 a is provided respectively within the torsion boxes 53, alternatively this can also be provided outside of the same.

In FIG. 5, a further example embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

As shown by the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, the flexible region 11; 12; 15 comprises several box elements 154, which are connected articulately or jointedly in a prescribed degree at their longitudinal sides at joint regions 169, and are provided between the first cover skin 55 a and the second cover skin 55 b. The box elements 154 are elongated or extended in a longitudinal direction extending perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 5, and have an essentially triangular basic shape in cross-section.

The box elements 154 are connected with the first cover skin 55 a at a transmission region 164, which is formed by the upper base line of the mentioned triangle, and they have, spaced apart in the vertical direction, a connection region 163, which is formed by the corner or peak of the triangle located opposite the baseline, and which is coupled with an adjusting or actuating mechanism referenced overall with the reference number 160, which serves to pivot or tilt the box elements 154 about the joint regions 169 in the sense of a change of the wing profile in response to a corresponding control signal.

The adjusting mechanism 160 comprises a respective drive line 162 a, that is changeable in its length and that is coupled with the connection region 163 of the box elements 154, whereby a change of the length of the drive line 162 a causes a rotation of the box elements 154 in the sense of a change of the form or shape of the wing profile. The box elements 154 arranged one behind another are respectively coupled with a drive line 162 a.

Pendulum or pivot joints 168, which are coupled between the transmission region 164 of the box elements 154 and the first cover skin 55 a serve for compensating or evening-out a relative motion between the first cover skin 55 a and the box element 154.

As shown by FIGS. 6 and 7, which illustrate enlarged sections or portions of the region, in which the box elements 154 are coupled with one another on their longitudinal sides, and on the other hand with the first cover skin 55 a of the lifting wing 1, the joint regions 169 and the pendulum or pivot joints 168 are formed by elastic joint elements in the illustrated example embodiments. These elastic joint elements comprise flexibly elastic bands, for example of a spring elastic metal or synthetic plastic, whereby the joint regions 169 and the pendulum or pivot joints 168 are formed by a common element in the illustrated example embodiments. These common elements 168, 169 are formed by flexibly elastic bands 172, 174 that respectively extend in extension of the shanks or legs 154 a, 154 b of the triangle shaped box elements 154, are fixed or secured thereto on one side, and cross one another, of which the other side is fixed or secured to the first cover skin 55 a of the wing 1. In the space bounded by the flexibly elastic bands 172, 174 crossing one another and the first cover skin 55 a, there is provided a filler piece 176, which especially consists of an elastic material, compare FIG. 6.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, there is further provided a web or spar element 177, which extends in the direction from the first cover skin 55 a to the second cover skin 55 b, and which extends with its longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the box elements 154. This web or spar element 177 is fixed or secured with one side to the first cover skin 55 a or near the same on the side of the box elements 154 via a first articulated or jointed connection 178, in the example embodiment illustrated here, on the common joint formed by the joint region 169 and the pendulum or pivot joint 168, and with the other side lying opposite, to the second cover skin 55 b, via a second articulated or jointed connection 179. The first articulated or jointed connection 178 and the second articulated or jointed connection 179 are formed by elastic bands.

As shown by FIG. 8, the drive line 162 a is coupled via an elastic band 164 with the connection region 163 of the box elements 154.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 show cross-sectional views of spacers or spacing holders 181; 281, which are provided between the first cover skin 55 a and the second cover skin 55 b, by means of which the cover skins 55 a, 55 b are held at a prescribed spacing distance and simultaneously a relative motion between these is made possible upon changing of the wing profile.

The spacing holders 181; 281 comprise a roll or drum shaped element 182; 282 and an arrangement of flexible bands 183 a, b; 283 a, b, through which the roll or drum shaped elements 182; 282 are guided in the sense of a rolling motion between the first cover skin 55 a and the second cover skin 55 b in connection with a relative motion between these. The flexible bands 183 a, b; 283 a, b are guided around the roll or drum shaped elements 182; 282 and are secured with their ends on the first cover skin 55 a or the second cover skin 55 b respectively.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the flexible band 183 a is secured to the first cover skin 55 a on the right side of the roll or drum shaped element 182, and is guided around the roll or drum shaped element 182 again back to its right side and is secured to the second cover skin 55 b. In a mirror-opposite manner thereto, a further flexible band 183 b is secured to the first cover skin 55 a on the left side of the roll or drum shaped element 182, guided around the roll or drum shaped element 182 again to its left side and secured to the second cover skin 55 b. Thereby, a rolling motion of the roll or drum shaped element 182 between the first cover skin 55 a and the second cover skin 55 b is possible, and simultaneously the former is securely guided and held.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the roll or drum shaped element 282 is divided or split in the middle, and each one of the flexible bands 283 a, b is guided through the middle of the roll or drum shaped element 282 while reversing the wrapping or winding direction and respectively wrapped or wound in opposite directions around the element 282. Thus, a flexible band 283 a is secured to the first cover skin 55 a on the left side of the roll or drum shaped element 282, guided around the roll or drum shaped element 282 and back to its left side through the middle thereof, and under reversal of the wrapping or winding direction around the same, is secured to the second cover skin 55 b on the right side thereof. A further flexible band 283 b is, oppositely, secured to the first cover skin 55 a on the right side of the roll or drum shaped element 282, guided around the roll or drum shaped element 282 and back through the middle thereof, and under reversal of the wrapping or winding direction is guided further around the roll or drum shaped element 282 and secured on its left side. Here also, the flexible bands 283 a, b allow a relative motion of the cover skins 55 a, 55 b relative to one another, whereby the roll or drum shaped element 282 is securely guided and held with a rolling motion between the cover skins 55 a, 55 b. 

1. Wing, especially lifting wing of an aircraft, with changeable profile, which extends in wing chord direction (5) extending essentially in flow direction and perpendicularly thereto in wingspan direction (10), and comprises a first cover skin (55 a) and lying opposite thereto a second cover skin (55 b), and comprises a leading edge region (11) and a trailing edge region (12) with respect to the wing chord direction (5), as well as a wing tip region (14) at the end of the wing (1) with respect to the wingspan direction (10), characterized by a flexible region (15) arranged close to the wing end, through which the profile of the wing tip region (14) is adjustable in a direction that includes both a component in wing chord direction (5) as well as a component in wingspan direction (10).
 2. Wing according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible region (15) is arranged obliquely relative to the wing chord direction (5). 3-28. (canceled)
 29. Wing according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible region (15) extends from the leading edge region (11) to the trailing edge region (12) of the wing (1).
 30. Wing according to claim 1, characterized in that the leading edge region (11) extends with a positive sweepback angle to the wing chord direction (5), and that the flexible region (15) is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the leading edge region (11).
 31. Wing according claim 1, characterized in that, in the flexible region (15) the camber of the wing (1) is adjustable while changing the curvature of the first cover skin (55 a) and of the second cover skin (55 b).
 32. Wing according to claim 31, characterized in that the flexible region (15) comprises several longitudinally extending torsion boxes (53) arranged next to one another, which are formed of the first cover skin (55 a), the second cover skin (55 b) as well as at least one spar (52) extending in the longitudinal direction of the torsion boxes (53), and are articulately connected with one another in a prescribed degree, and which are torsionally stiff about their longitudinal direction and are changeable in their shape in a direction perpendicular thereto in the sense of a prescribed change of the wing profile, and in that there is provided an adjusting mechanism (60) for the changing of the shape of the torsion boxes (53) and therewith of the wing profile in response to a corresponding control signal.
 33. Wing according to claim 32, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism (60) comprises at least one vertebra body (61) with a transmission element (64) that is connected via a pivot joint (68) with the first cover skin (55 a) preferably for compensating the relative motion between the first cover skin (55 a) and the vertebra body (61), and with a vertically spaced apart connection location (63) to a drive line (62) that is changeable in its length in response to the control signal, whereby a change of the length of the drive line (62 a) causes a rotation of the at least one vertebra body (61) in the sense of a change of the shape of the torsion boxes (53) and therewith of the wing profile.
 34. Wing according to claim 33, characterized in that several vertebra bodies (61) arranged one behind another are provided, which are connected respectively with one drive line (62 a).
 35. Wing according to claim 33, characterized in that the arrangement of the at least one vertebra (61) and the at least one drive line (62 a) is provided within the torsion boxes (53).
 36. Wing according to claim 33, characterized in that the arrangement of the at least one vertebra body (61) and the at least one drive line (62 a) is provided outside of the torsion boxes (53).
 37. Wing according to claim 33, characterized in that the pivot joint (68) is embodied as an elastic joint, by which each transmission element (64) is connected via elastic connections on the one hand with the first cover skin (55 a) and with a spar (52).
 38. Wing according to claim 1, characterized in that flexible region (15) comprises one or more box elements (154) elongated in a longitudinal direction, which are jointedly connected on their longitudinal sides in a prescribed degree via joint regions (169) and are provided between the first cover skin (55 a) and the second cover skin (55 b), whereby the box elements (154) comprise a transmission region (164) extending perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction and connected with the first cover skin (55 a), and a connection region (163) spaced apart in vertical direction, and in that there is provided an adjusting mechanism (160) coupled with the connection region (163) of the box elements (154) for the moving of the box elements (154) about the joint regions (169) in the sense of a change of the wing profile in response to a corresponding control signal.
 39. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that the box elements (154) have an essentially triangular basic shape in cross-section, whereby the transmission region (164) is formed by the baseline and the connection region (163) is formed by the corner point of the triangle lying opposite thereto.
 40. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism (160) comprises a drive line (162 a) that is changeable in its length and that is coupled with the connection region (163) of the box elements (154), whereby a change of the length of the drive line (162 a) causes a rotation of the at least one box element (154) in the sense of a change of the shape of the wing profile.
 41. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that there are provided several box elements (154) arranged one behind another, which are respectively coupled with a drive line (162 a).
 42. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that there are provided pivot joints (168) for the compensating of a relative motion between the first cover skin (55 a) and the box element (154), via which the transmission region (164) of the box elements (154) is coupled with the first cover skin (55 a).
 43. Wing according to claim 42, characterized in that the joint regions (169) and/or the pivot joints (168) are formed by elastic joint elements.
 44. Wing according to claim 42, characterized in that the joint regions (169) and/or the pivot joints (168) are formed by flexibly elastic bands (172, 174).
 45. Wing according to claim 42, characterized in that the joint regions (169) and the pivot joints (168) are formed by a common joint.
 46. Wing according to claim 45, characterized in that the common joint (168, 169) is formed by flexibly elastic bands (172, 174) that respectively extend in extension of the shanks (154 a, 154 b) of the box elements (154), are secured thereto at one side, and cross over one another, of which the other side is secured on the first cover skin (55 a) of the wing (1).
 47. Wing according to claim 46, characterized in that a filler piece (176), especially consisting of an elastic material, is provided in the space bounded by the first cover skin (55 a) and the flexibly elastic bands (172, 174) that cross one another.
 48. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that there is provided a web or spar element (177) extending in the direction from the first cover skin (55 a) to the second cover skin (55 b) and extending with its longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the box elements (154), which is secured with one side via a first jointed connection (178) on the first cover skin (55 a) or near the first cover skin (55 a) on the side of the box elements (154), especially on the joint region (169) and/or on the pivot joint (168), and with the other side lying opposite, via a second jointed connection (179), on the second cover skin (55 b).
 49. Wing according to claim 48, characterized in that the first jointed connection (178) and/or the second jointed connection (179) is formed by elastic bands.
 50. Wing according to claim 40, characterized in that the drive line (162 a) is coupled via an elastic band (164) with the connection region (163) of the box elements (154).
 51. Wing according to claim 38, characterized in that a spacing holder (181; 281) is provided between the first cover skin (55 a) and the second cover skin (55 b), by means of which the cover skins (55 a, 55 b) are held at a prescribed spacing distance and simultaneously a relative motion between these is made possible in connection with changing of the wing profile.
 52. Wing according to claim 51, characterized in that the spacing holder (181; 281) includes a roll shaped element (182; 282) and a flexible band arrangement (183 a, b; 283 a, b) for the guiding of the roll shaped element (182; 282) in the sense of a rolling motion of the roll shaped element (182; 282) between the first cover skin (55 a) and the second cover skin (55 b) in connection with a relative motion between these.
 53. Wing according to claim 52, characterized in that the flexible band arrangement (183 a, b; 283 a, b) includes at least one flexible band guided around the roll shaped element (182; 282) and secured with its ends on the first or the second cover skin (55 a, 55 b) respectively.
 54. Wing according to claim 53, characterized in that the roll shaped element (282) is centrally divided, and in that the flexible band (283 a, b) is guided through the middle of the roll shaped element (282) while reversing the wrapping direction, and is guided around this respectively halfway in opposite directions. 